If given the choice, would you choose to work hard or to work smart? Provided you’re not a masochist, you would probably choose to work smart. In our culture, that’s a common bit of advice, and most people see the wisdom. But, what if “hard” and “smart” aren’t the only ways to work? What if working these ways isn’t the most likely path to success? Rather than working hard or smart, we need to turn our attention to working “happy.”
Imagine the worst possible first day on your new job. Did you spill coffee on your new boss? Forget to grab important files? Accidentally insult a client? All of these scenarios pale in comparison to being arrested once you enter your new office because your background check contained a false outstanding warrant. Hello, office! Goodbye, office. Talk about a bad first impression.
A BBC study examining the impact of sleep schedules on volunteers emphasized what many of us already know—more sleep is good for our bodies and brains. Nevertheless, it never hurts to have another reminder that the magic number of eight hours isn’t just ideal. In several crucial ways, ample sleep is necessary to make us more productive in our work day.
Should you ask for a raise during bad economic times? The answer is yes, but only if you deserve a raise and you've developed a carefully thought-through strategy. Even in bad times, asking for more money likely can tell you where you stand within your company and what the future might hold. Abby is a CPA in Kansas City working for an auto parts company. Her work is demanding, and while she enjoys her job and her co-workers, her salary is about $12,000 less a year than what the men in her company make who have the same amount of experience and tenure and do similar work.
When interviewing for a new job these days, you should expect to be assessed just as much on how well you fit in with an organization’s culture as on your qualifications and experience. Of course, the shoe also is on the other foot: if you knew the "culture" of the organization, would you still want to work there?
If you’re like a lot of professionals, you start your career with a roar right out of college, full of energy and willing to put work first. But after several years -- and perhaps several different jobs, or promotions, or career changes -- your priorities shift. How does one strike an increasingly important balance between work life and personal life? Workplace flexibility, whether in your current position or a new one, is essential to find that balance. Five steps can help you achieve that goal.
Trying to find a new job after college can be daunting in this economy. Trying to find one in another country is even trickier. But sometimes we need a shake-up or a kick-start, and once we go down that road, there is no telling where we will end up. If you are contemplating hopping over the pond to have a go at living in a country with a long standing Queen, there are a few things you should know.
From data-entry clerks to sign spinners, opportunities exist to find less than fulfilling employment. Long days spent watching the clock plague everyone at some time or another in their working lives. Such frustrating moments can make your job feel meaningless, but those lulls are typically offset during busy periods. Yet some jobs lack those peaks that make work fulfilling, which makes them some of the most menial, obsolete and downright useless jobs in the working world.